Teaching Evolution and Behavior using Virtual Games

该项目旨在通过嵌入高度逼真的沉浸式计算机模拟的互动活动，激发学生学习复杂科学概念的热情，从而为国家利益服务。该项目将侧重于创建两个虚拟实验室（在两个不同的课程中），一个展示进化生物学的关键概念，另一个展示动物生态学和行为。第一个实验室将把学生带回侏罗纪时期的森林，那时恐龙还在地球上游荡。学生将进行一系列指导活动，包括跟踪和镇静不同种类的恐龙，收集他们的解剖学数据（如大小，皮肤类型，有无羽毛）和他们的遗传学（DNA和蛋白质序列）。学生们将利用收集到的数据对不同恐龙物种的进化关系进行分析，并对羽毛和飞行等关键特征的进化做出推断。在第二个实验中，学生将虚拟旅行到亚马逊雨林，沉浸在捕食者-猎物相互作用的生态中。他们将扮演潜在的猎物（有毒和无毒的青蛙）和捕食者（鸟类），并将能够遵循不同的策略（例如，有毒和鲜艳的颜色，或无毒和伪装），并了解他们的策略如何影响生存，在互动环境中考虑到其他人（例如捕食者）正在采取的策略。该项目将采用先进的计算机模拟方法来创建虚拟环境和令人兴奋但具有教育意义的故事情节，旨在使学生通过参与和学习进化生物学和动物生态学和行为学的主题来实现学术目标。虚拟环境和互动活动将包括使用复杂和沉浸式计算机模拟的新型互动显示，并使用快速、强大、尖端的软件实现。生物学教员将协助设计和测试虚拟实验室。评估和评估策略将用于评估创新的计算机模拟如何能够实现教育目标。评估将包括人口统计调查、活动前和活动后测试、游戏玩法参数分析和深度问卷调查。NSF IUSE: EHR计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生STEM教育的有效性。通过参与学生学习轨道，该计划支持有前途的实践和工具的创建，探索和实施。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by stimulating student enthusiasm for learning complex scientific concepts through interactive activities embedded in highly realistic, immersive computer simulations. The project will focus on the creation of two virtual labs (in two different courses), one presenting key concepts from evolutionary biology, and one demonstrating animal ecology and behavior. The first lab will transport students back to a forest in the Jurassic epoch, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth. Students will undertake a guided series of activities, including tracking and tranquilizing different species of dinosaurs, collecting data on their anatomy (e.g. size, skin type, presence, or absence of feathers) and on their genetics (DNA and protein sequences). The students will use the data they have gathered to carry out analyses of the evolutionary relationships of the different dinosaur species, and to make inferences about the evolution of key characteristics, such as feathers and flight. In the second lab, students will travel virtually to the Amazon rainforest to be immersed in the ecology of predator-prey interactions. They will play both potential prey (toxic and non-toxic frogs) and predators (birds) and will be able to follow different strategies (e.g. be toxic and brightly colored, or be non-toxic and camouflaged), and learn how their strategy affects survival given the strategies that others (e.g. the predators) are pursuing, in an interactive context.This project will employ advanced computer simulation methods to create virtual environments and exciting yet educational storylines that are intended to make students want to attain academic goals by engaging with and learning about topics in evolutionary biology and animal ecology and behavior. The virtual environments and interactive activities will include novel interactive displays using sophisticated and immersive computer simulations and implemented with fast, powerful, cutting-edge software. Biology faculty members will aid in the design and testing of the virtual labs. Evaluation and assessment strategies will be designed to assess how innovative computer simulations can result in educational goals. Evaluation will include demographic surveys, pre- and post-activity tests, analyses of game play metrics, and in-depth questionnaires. The NSF IUSE: EHR Program supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.